What Makes an Excellent Motorcycle Shipping Company?

What's in this article?

Shipping motorcycles is a necessary and complex process. You can ship your bike in many different ways, including shipping it yourself, hiring a professional carrier, or renting a trailer.

Each option has pros and cons, so you want to make sure you choose the best one for your situation.

How to Find the Best Motorcycle Shipping Company

When looking into what makes a good motorcycle shipping company, there are several things to consider. Work through these preparation lists, and make notes as you go.

1) What do you need

Before choosing a company, you need to determine what type of shipment you require. For example, do you just need someone else to pick up your bike and deliver it to another location?

Or do you need to ship your motorcycle across the country? Contact a local shipping company if you need to know how far away you're sending the bike. They can tell you how far and whether they can accommodate your motorcycle.

2) Now go online

There are several resources online that can help you research companies. You can use sites like Yelp, Angie's List, and BBB to learn about the reputation of companies. Also, check out customer reviews and customer experience.

3) Ask around

Ask friends and family members for their experience. They can give you feedback on the quality of the entire process.

What Should You Look for in a Good Motorcycle Shipping Company?

Motorcycles are big investments. They require ongoing care and attention, especially during transportation.

You'll need the best motorcycle shipping company to ensure your bike is delivered safely. Here's what to consider when you're ready to select one.

1) Ask about the shipper's experience

Before you sign up with a shipper, check out their track record. For example, how many shipments did they handle last month? What types of vehicles do they ship? Do they specialize in motorcycles?

2) Check out their insurance coverage

The best way to protect yourself against damage to your vehicle while it's being shipped is to purchase insurance.

This coverage protects both you and the shipper. In addition, some carriers offer additional protection, such as roadside assistance and emergency medical transport.

3) Get quotes from several companies

To avoid paying too much, compare quotes from multiple carriers. Be sure to include everything in your quote request, including the destination address, the weight of the shipment, and whether or not you want to use a trailer.

4) Ask about their pricing structure

How much does each box cost? Are there additional fees for certain types of boxes? What do they charge for extra boxes? Do they include free estimates? If not, how much are they charging per box?

5) Find out what type of insurance coverage they offer

Insurance coverage should include property damage and liability coverage. At the same time, most companies only offer full protection. Know how you're covered before you begin.

6) Make sure they can accommodate your schedule

Some movers work around your busy schedule, while others require you to wait weeks before they start working on your move. Is that something you can live with?

7) Check online reviews

There are many helpful sites like Yelp, Angie's List, BBB, and even Facebook, where customers post their experiences with different movers.

Read through reviews carefully and look for common themes. For example, if several people complain about poor customer service, that might be a red flag.

8) Proper equipment to handle your motorcycle move

The best way to find out whether a company can handle your motorcycle move is to ask around. You want someone with experience moving motorcycles and the proper equipment to do the job safely.

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9) Cost of insurance for you

You never know what might happen during transport. So it pays to cover yourself. Insurance companies must pay up if your vehicle suffers damage while being moved.

10) Written estimate of their costs

Compare your quote with those of others. Make comparisons and know how much you're up for. Ask about the likelihood of extra costs or hidden costs.

What Affects the Cost of Motorcycle Shipping?

Motorcycles are heavy items to move around, especially across oceans. But what factors affect the price of transporting one? Let's take a look.

Distance affects how much it costs. If you live near a major city like New York

The type of transport determines whether or not you will receive protection for the bike. Most carriers provide insurance for motorbikes, but some do not.

If you want to protect your vehicle, you must purchase it separately. Some carriers charge a premium for this option.

The time of year affects how much shipping costs. During the summer months, many people travel and spend money on vacations. They often buy bikes during this time.

As such, demand increases, and prices rise. In contrast, wintertime is a typically slower season for buying and selling vehicles. Therefore, carriers tend to raise rates during this period.

Vehicle size also makes a difference. Larger motorcycles usually require bigger carriers and thus cost more. Conversely, smaller motorcycles can fit into smaller trucks, making them cheaper to ship.

How to Prepare Your Motorcycle for Transport

When you ship a motorcycle, do your preparation thoroughly. You want to make sure everything goes well during the shipping process.

1) Get insurance coverage

You'll need liability insurance if you plan on shipping a motorcycle. Liability insurance protects you against damage caused by someone else while your vehicle is being transported.

Proper insurance protects you from being held liable for damages incurred during transport.

2) Be prepared

Before you load up your motorcycle and head out, take inventory. Make sure you know what's inside your motorcycle and how much it weighs.

Write down the serial number of your bike, along with any important information about the frame, such as whether it's a custom build, and any modifications that have been done to it.

3) Pack safely

Pack your motorcycle carefully. Don't overload the trailer, especially if it's a flatbed. Use packing materials like bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, plastic bags, and blankets to protect your bike.| Choose a shipping method

How Long Does It Take to Ship a Motorcycle?

When calculating how much it will cost to ship a motorcycle, there are several things to consider. These include the distance between pickup and delivery locations, road conditions, and weather.

Also important is the exact type of motorcycle transport service needed.

The time it takes to ship a motorcycle depends on where you live and what kind of transportation needs to happen along the way.

For example, shipping a motorcycle across the United States could take anywhere from one day to three weeks, depending on the pickup location and delivery points.

If you use a local shipper, you might find that the process goes smoothly, but you'll likely incur additional costs for faster service.

If you choose to ship internationally, you'll probably face additional fees again. These are related to customs clearance and brokerage; you may even need to hire a professional driver to help move the vehicle safely.

Conclusion

When choosing a motorcycle transport company, there are certain factors to consider. You want to make sure that you choose a company that offers great customer service, is affordable, provides quality packing materials, and, most importantly, can move you safely.

At A-1 Auto Transport, we can answer your questions, see to all your needs, and handle your shipment with absolute professionality and expertise.

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